Wedding w/limited card space, RAW or JPEG

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

08/07/2006 05:07:28 PM · #1

I know RAW vs JPEG has been hashed out here since the dawn of DPC.

BUT...my co-workers wedding is this weekend, she just wants CD's when it is over, I only have two 1Gb and one 512Mb cards.

Shooting with Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT, Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II/III USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6. Picked up a 430ex, and am looking at a 50mm/1.8 with difference between the 580 and 430.

With these limitations...any suggestions on RAW vs JPEG. Again, I don't plan to do any post processing for her, maybe a little for my own portfolio.

Thanks!

-edit spelling

Message edited by author 2006-08-07 23:51:14.

raish

Olympus C-2500L

08/07/2006 05:15:22 PM · #2

Buy, beg, borrow, steal another card. Or a laptop + cardreader. Or X-drive?
You must know someone?

TechnoShroom

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

08/07/2006 05:17:27 PM · #3

Originally posted by raish:

Buy, beg, borrow, steal another card. Or a laptop + cardreader. Or X-drive?
You must know someone?

Agreed, only way to go.

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

08/07/2006 05:17:54 PM · #4

Keep in mind if you are going to turn over all the images untouched, you will probabaly need to convert them all the jpg for your friend unless they have image editing software and want to deal with RAW.

I suggest for your friend's sake that you shoot the highest quality jpg.

mist

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/07/2006 05:27:13 PM · #5

Buy another card, shoot raw + high quality jpg, and keep the raws. Gives you scope to play around with them later if needs be, or quickly produce a set of samples.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/07/2006 05:34:18 PM · #6

Here's a suggestion. Shoot anything outside of Formals and other similarily important shots in JPG... but shoot the important stuff in RAW.

Generally, you take less photos for the formals and pure ceremony shots, so you should have enough space if you absolutely can't find any other storage options.

kyebosh

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 80-200mm f/2.8L

08/07/2006 05:35:30 PM · #7

if you're not prepared to shoot a wedding, don't shoot the wedding.

if you must, get more storage, and fast.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

08/07/2006 05:39:44 PM · #8

If you aren't planning on doing PP, then I'd shoot JPEG. Quantity will be more beneficial than any extra quality from the RAW. You would shoot RAW as a backup to try and "save" a poor exposure or WB, but if you are in the position where you require RAW to fix exposure and WB at a wedding you are already in a world of hurt...

08/07/2006 05:42:11 PM · #9

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Please.
Not true at all. There are many instances where lighting conditions can really be disastrous, and the ability to have the extra control in RAW comes in amazingly handy.
Yes.. trying to get your exposure and whatever right first off is *important*.. but not always do-able. Especially when working fast, under pressure, and in changing light conditions. *requiring* RAW, and using RAW to the full advantage, are two entirely different things.

oOWonderBreadOo

08/07/2006 05:44:32 PM · #10

Is this something you want to do for a living?

How good do you feel you are? (I have no portfolio to judge your work by is why I ask)

have you thought about dumping your cards as you go?

08/07/2006 05:45:48 PM · #11

Thanks for the suggestions. I have shot three family weddings now in digital (a dozen in 35mm) all at the biggest and best jpegs, and have had plenty of room on my two cards. I am ready for the wedding, I just don't want to screw anything up and have to see her all the time at work.

If I am just going to load these images onto a CD, for them to get prints where-ever/whenever they want...won't they be JPEG on the CD's? or will it load the RAW data if they want to have someone work a little Photoshop magic?

08/07/2006 05:50:43 PM · #12

Originally posted by oOWonderBreadOo:

Is this something you want to do for a living?

I have no portfolio to judge your work by is why I ask)

Yeah...DPC membership is the next investment after this wedding! I would love to move into the world of photography. As for now I just shoot friends and family for the cost of film/CD's (a couple hundred bucks for friends of a friend). They seem to be pleased with the work, as my name keeps getting tossed around my hometown, and my dance card filled.

08/07/2006 05:50:47 PM · #13

Originally posted by chiefhane:

If you shoot RAW without Jpeg, you'll be putting RAW on the CDs, and they'll need to have/get a RAW conversion. It's best, as some said, to shoot highest quality JPEG if this is what you are doing.. or, if you want RAW for some shots, just do the conversions yourself quickly and add them to the other jpegs to put on the CD.

oOWonderBreadOo

08/07/2006 05:57:57 PM · #14

Originally posted by raish:

Buy, beg, borrow, steal another card. Or a laptop + cardreader. Or X-drive?
You must know someone?

do this then :0) maybe you could do the cheaper flash & one more card?
good luck!

whatever you do don't shoot RAW+jpg. it will eat up your space

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

08/07/2006 05:59:50 PM · #15

Originally posted by Artyste:

If I shoot both, and load both onto the CD, will the corner print shop be able to convert the RAW if the bride/groom give them the CD to have prints done? Or will I need to load all JPEG for them to have pictures printed at a Wal-mart (<--yeah...I know) or Walgreens or even a local camera store/shop?

Canon EOS-60D

08/07/2006 06:00:36 PM · #16

Artyste's advice is right on the money. The four weddings I have shot were all shot with limited memory space, about with what you have right now. I shot jpeg for everything except the formals and indoor ceremony shots. That way I only had to use RAW when it was really important and I was able to conserve space. :)

mist

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/07/2006 06:04:44 PM · #17

Originally posted by chiefhane:

I doubt that the local shop would have anything to do with your RAW files, other than maybe to duplicate them exactly if that's what you want. If you take any raw shots at all, I would keep them for your own purposes. Only give JPEGs to your client / friends.

Edit - unless they specifically request the raw, of course. Think of it like a negative.

Message edited by author 2006-08-07 18:05:50.

PhantomEWO

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/07/2006 06:09:51 PM · #18

Two choices and both are good.
1. RAW + highest quality JPG. ONly give them the JPG's, keep the RAW for you incase something needs real processing afterwards.

2. Shoot only highest quality JPG. Make a copy on a CD, keep one and give one. In most cases JPG will do just fine.

If it's just me shooting scenes, landscapes etc I only shoot RAW. If it's a general event of party I shoot only hi quality JPGs becasue I will not be doing any heroic processing. If it's a paid wedding I shoot RAW + JPG and onl;y release the JPG. I keep a copy of the RAW and JPG on a DVD for my own use and backup.

Also if you are going to take a lot of pics set the camera to a constant level such as 5300 temp. That will make batch processing much easier is the WB is constant. It really doesn't matter too much what if you are batch processing from RAW, after you do the first the others will get the same Batch WB processing. If you leave it on auto it will be more of a hit or miss on RAW batch processing. ANother idea especially for weddings where the bride is wearing a white dress is taking a picture of a "paint chip" sample from a paint store. Get one that is very litle blue, almost white but not quite. Then set it as the WB for the rest of the event. This will help in not blowing out the bright white dress as easily. When you are taking several hundred photos try to think batch .... what can you do to make them all the same basic settings, much easier.

Good luck!

hankk

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

08/07/2006 06:10:53 PM · #19

RAW conversion isn't hard, and can be done in a batch process by DPP. You just have to let it run for a couple of hours. If the couple especially like one or two (or more) of the shots, you can offer to PS them.

If someone will pay for film and processing, this couple should be willing to buy you a CF card for your time and trouble.

08/07/2006 06:14:22 PM · #20

Originally posted by chiefhane:

Originally posted by Artyste:

If you shoot RAW without Jpeg, you'll be putting RAW on the CDs, and they'll need to have/get a RAW conversion. It's best, as some said, to shoot highest quality JPEG if this is what you are doing.. or, if you want RAW for some shots, just do the conversions yourself quickly and add them to the other jpegs to put on the CD.

If I shoot both, and load both onto the CD, will the corner print shop be able to convert the RAW if the bride/groom give them the CD to have prints done? Or will I need to load all JPEG for them to have pictures printed at a Wal-mart (<--yeah...I know) or Walgreens or even a local camera store/shop?

The print shops will *not* convert.

hankk

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

08/07/2006 06:19:46 PM · #21

Originally posted by PhantomEWO:

Also if you are going to take a lot of pics set the camera to a constant level such as 5300 temp. That will make batch processing much easier is the WB is constant. It really doesn't matter too much what if you are batch processing from RAW, after you do the first the others will get the same Batch WB processing. If you leave it on auto it will be more of a hit or miss on RAW batch processing. ANother idea especially for weddings where the bride is wearing a white dress is taking a picture of a "paint chip" sample from a paint store. Get one that is very litle blue, almost white but not quite. Then set it as the WB for the rest of the event. This will help in not blowing out the bright white dress as easily. When you are taking several hundred photos try to think batch .... what can you do to make them all the same basic settings, much easier.
Good luck!

Lighting can very so much--sunlight, shade, tungsten, fluorescent, mixed...IMO, get a grey card and set your white balance for each group of shots in the same light if the light is from one type of source. If the lighting is mixed, there can be problems. Setting the WB for each shot is best, but impractical. AWB may be a better choice, especially if there's a lot of artificial lighting. (And sometimes you still have to convert to B&W to save it---I mean make it a more interesting, classic portrait :-)

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/07/2006 06:25:46 PM · #22

Originally posted by hankk:

Lighting can very so much--sunlight, shade, tungsten, fluorescent, mixed

Yeah...lighting is one more problem! I've never seen the venues, and will be arriving just before shoot time (I'm covering her shift the night before)! I hope to haul the mail to get there early and run some test shots with my wife before anyone shows up.

Thanks for everyone's input!

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

08/07/2006 06:27:59 PM · #23

I was at a cousin's wedding this past Saturday and used up a pair of 2Gb cards plus a 1Gb shooting in RAW and I was just shooting for fun! Had I been the paid photographer, I probably would have needed another 2Gb minimum to get all the formal stuff. As it was, I had to go back through and delete about 70 shots just to contiinue on through the end of the reception. The other option would have been to offload one card to my laptop while shooting with the other, but I didn't have my fast card reader with me.

Outdoor shots are fine in JPEG as long as you don't overexpose. Indoors are tricky if you don't shoot in RAW because the white balance can change in different areas of the room and/or depending on flash distance. I would definitely order a 2GB CF card pronto ($44 shipped). Shoot RAW for anything critical and JPEG (carefully) for the rest. You simply don't have the capacity for RAW + JPEG throughout. Make sure you have spare batteries for your camera and flash, too!

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/07/2006 06:41:16 PM · #24

Originally posted by Artyste:

Please.
Not true at all. There are many instances where lighting conditions can really be disastrous, and the ability to have the extra control in RAW comes in amazingly handy.

Sorry, I agree with you Artyste. I guess what I meant was that if you are not planning on doing any PP and then suddenly you find that you have to convert 300 pictures due to differing WB or exposures, you have a whole bunch of work you weren't planning on. Are you really willing to do that in this case and if not, then why shoot RAW in the first place?